Psychiatry

Answer 4 Delusional disorder. Delusional disorder is a rare illness in which there are 1 or more nonbizarre delusions (delusions that could occur in real life, such as being followed, infected, or loved at a distance).4 The erotomanic subtype of delusional disorder is defined as a delusion in which another person, usually of higher rank, is thought to be in love with the individual.4 There are no mood symptoms that would suggest psychotic depression or bipolar disorder in the case patient. Individuals with delusional disorder are typically much higher functioning than those with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and are frequently married and employed. The presence of a single delusion without other impairment or symptoms would not be consistent with either schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. REFERENCE 4. Sadock BJ, Sadock VA. Other psychotic disorders. In: Synopsis of psychiatry. Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins; 2003:505-33. Click here to return to the questions

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